ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The historic Union Depot in St. Paul will once again become a booming transportation hub.

A $243 million renovation project officially started Tuesday. By the end of 2012, it will service more than just trains.

In addition to Amtrak, the Central Corridor light-rail, Metro Transit buses, Greyhound and Jefferson busses will make the Depot their destination too. There is also hope a future high-speed rail from Chicago will also stop there.

"The more you connect, the more you grow. The union depot will connect to places where people work and live in our region," U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn, said during Tuesday's groundbreaking.

The last passenger train departed the Union Depot 40 years ago. Now, the new Depot will help usher in a new era of transportation.

The project is expected to create 3,000 new jobs. More than 95 percent of the on-site jobs are expected to be local trades people.

Much of the project is being funded by federal funds. The state and Ramsey county are also paying parts of the bill.